Edge-protector for shoe-soles.



T. G. PLANT.

EDGE PROTECTOR FOR SHOE SOLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1909.

1,124,328, 7 Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE PATEBSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF EDGE-PROTECTOR FOR SHOE-SOLES.

Specification of Letters latent.

{Patented Jan. 12, i915.

Application filed June 11, 1909. Serial No. 501,44s.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. PLANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and btato of Massachusetts, have invented an 1111- provement in Edge-Protectors for Shoe- Soles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention herein to be described relates to means for protecting the edges of shoe soles during treatment of the upper, and has for its aims and purposes the provision of a guard that may be conveniently employed to shield the sole edge while the upper of the shoe is being treated, all as will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing one form or embodiment of the various expedients that may be adapted in carrying the invention into practical etl'ect, it being understood that the invention is not circumscribed by the detailsof such embodiment but is definitely set forth by the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the present invention, said device being illustrated as positioned on a shoe; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detached detail view of a portion of the protector looking from beneath; Fig. 4 is a section on line M, Fig. 3, with the protector shown in the relative positions of its parts as they appear when the protector is applied to a shoe; Fig. 5 is a detached detail showing the end of one of the plates or members; Fig. 6 is a like view of one end of the other plates or members; Fig. 7 is a cross section on line 77, Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8, Figs. 2 and 7.

The edge protector is adapted to be applied to a boot or shoe above the projecting edge a of the sole, the boot or shoe being typified in Figs. 1 and 2 by A, and when in position it is designed to protect the edge or surface of the sole during the application of any finishing material or other substance to the shoe upper, or during any treatment of the shoe upper under hondition that might subject the surface or edge of the-sole to injury or discoloration.

In the present form of the invention the protector comprises a series of plates flexioly united in a manner that they may be readlly and conveniently applied to any shoe, one edge of the protector extending over the top of the sole into proximity with the inseam, as typified in Fig. 2.

The plates of the protector may be formed conveniently in any suitable manner and flexibly joined together by suitable means, the invention in this respect being generic. In the form of the invention illustrated, each of a series of plates 1 has stamped therefrom the side fingers 2, 2, adapted to engage a suitable hole 3 in each of a series of plates 4;, said holes 3 extending longitudinally of the plates 4 to an extent suflicient to permit the fingers 2, 2, to be engaged therewith when the said fingers are in longitudinal alinement with said hole 3 but preventing disengagement therefrom when the fingers extend transversely thereof, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. Each of the plates 1 is also provided with downturned portions 5 which likewise extend through the holes 3 of the adjacent plates 4, as will be clearly apparent from Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and the downturned portions 5 on the adjacent ends of adjoining plates 1' are connected by flexible means, such as the springs 6, the construction being such that the springs -6 normally act to draw the plates 1 toward each other, or in other words normally contract the protector, so that it may readily adapt itself to different sizes and styles of shoes, and when in position it will have the inner edges of the seriesof plates thus assembled extend well into the space between the upper and sole in proximity to the seam, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The protector. or series of plates flexibly convenient application and removal of the united as described or otherwise, is connected to a protector carrier which is expansible and contractible to facilitate the ready and protector to and from a boot or shoe. In the illustrated form of the invention the protector carrier comprises the telescopic slides 7 and 8, Figs. 2 and 7, each having i and 10 are turned or bent, as at 11, and have pivotally connected thereto at 12, 12 the series of plates as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Obviously the protector, or series of plates, could be connected to the carrier at any convenient point in the length of the protector, but in the present form of the invention the end plate at each side of the protector is provided with a projection 18 which affords a convenient means for the pivotal connection of the protector with the protector carrier.

The protector carrier member or slide 8 is formed as a casing, see cross section thereof'in Fig. 7, and has secured thereto by screws 15 a rack bar 14 provided with the teeth 16. The coacting slide member 7 is formed as indicated in cross section, Fig. 7, and extends into the casing of slide member 8. At its inner edge portion the slide 7 is provided with a rack bar 17 secured thereto by pins or other means 19 and is provided with teeth 18 which coact with the teeth 16 on the rack bar 14. The slide 7 has the downturned flange 20, Fig. 7, which with the slide 8 serves to completethe casing character of the telescopic slides so that they may be grasped by the. hand, and disposed between the flange 20 of the slide 7 and the .untoothed edge of the rack bar 141 secured tothe slide 8 is a spring 21, Figs. 7 and 8, the construction being such that the spring 21 normally holds the rack teeth of the rack bar in engagement, permitting them to slide over each other in one direction to contract the carrier, and locking them against movement in the oppos'ide direction, as will be apparent.

From the construction described it will be obvious that the carrier may be grasped by the hand and, upon relative movement of the members 7 and 8 transversely under pressure of the hand, the spring 21 will be compressed and the teeth 16 and 18 of the rack bars will be disengaged, thereby permitting the telescoping members 7 and 8 to be separated, so as to open the protector that it may be properly applied to a shoe, as hereinbefore indicated. When the protector has thus been applied .to the shoe and the inner edge of the series of plates rests between the upper and the sole, as in Fig. 2, the telescoping members 7 and 8 may be slid longitudinally to contract the carrier to bring the parts of the protector snugly into position, the spring 21 at such times yielding and then serving to lock or hold the teeth 16 and 18 inengagement to prevent expansion of the carrier and hold the protector firmly in position on the shoe.

Obviously the form and character of the carrier may be varied within wide limits, and various means may be employed to form the ready expansion and'contraction of the edge protector so that it may be readily applied to and removed from its position on the. shoe.

The edge protector thus far described has been especially adapted for the forepart of a shoe, as indicated in Fig. 1, and in such construction the toe portion of the protector is preferably formed by two plates 22 and 23 hinged together by a pin 24, as indicated in Fig. 1., the other ends of said plates 22 and 23 being otherwise formed for coaction with the other plates of the series, as hereinbefore pointed out. It is desirable that the shank portion of the shoe shall be protected when the shoe upper is being treated at this point, and for this purpose the edge protector is. provided with shank plates 25, one being pivoted to each of the end plates,

as at 26. and normally pressed inward or toward the shank of the shoe by means of suitable springs 27. These springs may be supported in any suitable manner to perform the described function, 'and are herein designated as wound about the pivotal studs 12 connecting the protector carrier with the edge protector, the end of the spring adjacent the pivotal points 12 being secured to the end plates of the edge protector, and the opposite ends of the springs being secured, as at 28, to the shank plates. Ob viously the character of the plates for protecting the shank portion of the shoe may be variously formed, and in some cases may not be necessary. a

It is sometimes desirable that the heel portion of the sole edge be protected during treatment of the upper portion of the shoe at the heel, and to this end a heel edge protector may be provided and formed of a ,series of plates substantially the same as those described for theforepart protector, and indicated in part by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The heel edge protector may likewise be provided with shank members 29 which may be pivotally supported at 31 on a suitable heel edge protector carrier 30 substantially the same as the protector carrier hereinbefore described,-or of any suitable and desired character.

While the edge protector hereinbefore set forth has embodied various details of construction and is shown as applied to the forepart or to the heel part of the shoe, it-

edge protector, the invention being generic in these respects.

hat is claimed is:

1. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles, comprising a series of plates flexibly connected together to conform to the varying contours of shoe solesat the sides thereof, said plates having overlapping parts overlying the top of the sole to form an uninterrupted covering therefor and extending into the crease between the sole and upper.

2. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles, comprising a series of platesar ranged to extend along the sides of the forepart and about the toe of the shoe, means connecting the plates of the series permitting said platesto conform to both sides and toe portions of the shoe, and a shank protecting member to-protect the edge of the sole along the shank.

3. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles comprising a series of plates yieldingly connected in a longitudinal direction and arranged to overlie the projecting edge of the sole and conform to the outline of the shoe, and a carrier for said protector.

4. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles comprising a series of articulated plates yieldable longitudinally and arranged to overlie the protecting edge of the sole and conform to the outline of the shoe, and an expansible and contractible carrier for said protector.

5. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles comprising a series of plates having side portions to engage the sides of a shoe, said side portions being flexibly connected together to cofiform to the varying contours of shoes at the sides thereof, said plates having parts overlying the top of the sole arranged to form an uninterrupted covering therefor and extending into the crease between the sole and upper.

6. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles comprising a series of plates arranged to overlie the projecting edge of the sole, means for yieldingly connecting said plates longitudinally, and means for holding the plates in said position to protect the sole edge'during treatment of the upper portion of the shoe.

7. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles, comprising a series of plates flexibly connected to permit said plates to conform to the contour of a shoe above the sole edge and move relatively in a longitudinal direction, and means normally acting to hold said series of connected plates in contracted relation.

8. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles, comprising a series of plates flexibly connected together where they extend along the sides and about the toe to permit said plates to conform to the contour of a shoe above the sole edge, yield-ing means normally acting to hold said series of connected plates in contracted relatien, and a carrier for said protector. I

9. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles, comprising a series of plates extending along each side of the shoe and flexibly connected to permit said plates to conform to the contour of'a shoe above the sole edge, and a spring connection between some of said plates acting to normally contract the length of the protector.

10. A protectorfor the edges of a boot or shoe sole comprising a series of articulated plates extending along each side of the shoe and arranged to overlie the sole edge, a carrier for said protector having telescopic members, and means for holding the members in contracted relation with the protector in position on the boot or shoei 11. A protector for the edges of a boot or shoe sole comprising series of ar ticulated plates extending along each side of the shoe and arranged to overlie the sole edge, a carrier for said protector having relatively movable slide members, and means for locking the. slide members from relative movement.

12. A protector for the sole edge of a boot or shoe arranged to' overlie the sole edge and extend into the crease between the upper and sole, and having a shank protecting member, said shank protecting member extending toward the heel portion of the shoe from the ball line. I

13. A protector for the sole edge of a boot or shoe arranged to overlie the soleedge and extend into the crease between the upper and sole, and having a spring -'controlled shank protecting member.

14. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles, comprising a series of members having pivotal relation and longitudinal movement with respect to each other to enable said members to mutually adapt themselves to varying contours of the shoe along the sides and about the toe, and means for locking the protector-in protecting position.

15. A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles, comprising a series of members having pivotal relation and longitudinal movement with respect to each other to enable said members to mutuallyadapt themshoe soles, comprising a series of plates pivotally connected together along the sides and toe protecting portions of said protector to enable the plates to accommodate themselves to varying forms or contours of shoes along the sides and about the toe, the

pivotal connection between said plates being constructed and arranged to permit said plates to move relatively in a longitudinal direction.

17 A protector for the edges of boot and shoe soles, comprising a series of plates pivotally connected together along the sides and toe protecting portions of said protector to enable the plates to accommodate themselves to varying forms or contours of shoes along 15 

